Is mowing your lawn becoming more difficult than walking across a minefield? Are you tired of a lumpy, bumpy appearance making your summer gatherings just a little less picture-perfect? You can get a lawn that would make even the manliest of your neighbors weep with jealousy. Just get started with Step 1 below!

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Steps

Part 1 of 4: Setting Up For Success

1

Check for drainage problems. Before you do anything, you should try to figure out why your lawn is bumpy. Sometimes, it can be the result of drainage problems or even broken water pipes. If your lawn had major work done on it in the last few years, and it's bumpy everywhere, then that's normal. If, however, there are 2-3 low spots around areas where there may be water pipes, you should consult an expert to make sure that nothing is leaking.

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2

Decide how much area to level. Are you leveling just a few small spots or is your yard a, as the kids say, "hot mess"? If you have a seriously bumpy yard, it may be better to start from scratch. Decide what you want to do before wasting a bunch of time and effort.

3

Choose a grade for your yard. A level lawn is all well and good but you also want to think about the grade of your lawn. Experts recommend sloping your yard away from your house to help with drainage. While working on leveling, you might want to consider re-grading as well, if you have drainage issues.

4

Find the depth of low spots. If the low spots are fairly shallow, you should be fine. However, if they're deep, it may be easier to take out the grass at that spot before filling it in.

5

Time your repairs carefully. For basic repairs, try to time them for the Spring. This will allow your grass seed time to grow in and will also provide the moisture necessary to help set the soil.

Part 2 of 4: Mixing Your Filler

1

Add your topsoil. Get some high quality topsoil from a good gardening store or soil supply company. Good soil will be crucial for getting your lawn to stay even and your grass to grow back.

2

Add some sand. A bit of sand, also purchased from a soil supply company, will help give your mixture the right consistency to stay in place, keeping low spots from returning.

3

Add some compost or manure. You'll also want to make sure that your soil is nutrient rich, to help ensure your grass grows back healthy and quickly.

4

Mix them together. Mix them together at a ration of 2 parts topsoil, 2 parts sand, and 1 part compost.

Part 3 of 4: Filling Low Spots

1

Add your mix to low spots. Find the low spots in your yard and add the mixture you made to the spots, adding in just a little more than is necessary to even them out.

2

Spread it until it is level. Use a rake to spread the mixture evenly and fill out the spot.

3

Tamp it down. Use your feet and the end of the rake to tamp down the soil, compacting it. You can also rent a tamper from your local major hardware store. This piece of equipment will work even better to make sure those spots don't come back.

4

Add water. Lightly water the soil to help further compact.

5

Let it settle. Give the soil plenty of time to settle. At least a few days, preferably a week or more.

Part 4 of 4: Regrowing Your Grass

1

Distribute grass seeds. Get some grass seed appropriate for your lawn and area where you live and then get a hand spreader to help distribute the seed, especially if you have a fair amount of area to cover. Distribute the seeds, being careful not to go overboard.

2

Add topsoil. Sprinkle just a bit of topsoil over the seeds. Really, just the slightest dusting. This will help deter birds from eating your seed.

3

Lightly compact the soil. With your hand, pat down the soil you've added.

4

Water frequently. Water this soil with a light spray 4 times a day for the next 48 hours at least to help the seeds germinate.

5

Add more seed as necessary. Give the grass time to grow in. If there are still bare spots, add more grass seed as necessary. Enjoy your smooth lawn!

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Tips

Only do this in early spring or fall.

Definitely level your lawn if you remove and replace the sod. Before replacing sod or reseeding, use a wide rake or even a board (tie a rope around both ends and drag it behind you) to get the ground even.

If you only have a few low spots or deep divots, spend the summer packing your grass clippings into these spots. By fall they will have filled in nicely.

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